Is Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid Related to Cord Blood Vitamin D Levels?

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to compare cord blood Vitamin D levels of infants born with meconium stained amniotic fluid to those with clear amniotic fluid. Method: Term pregnant women in the active phase of labor and having meconium stained amniotic fluid were defined as the study group (n=44). Women with healthy uncomplicated pregnancies with clear amniotic fluid matched with the study group for age, parity and gestational age were defined as the control group. Demographic, delivery and laboratory parameters of both groups were recorded. Cord blood vitamin D levels were measured with high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The 88 women were between the ages of 18-40 years. There were 16 patients with massive meconium, and 28 patients with mild and moderate meconium. Mean vitamin D levels of the study and control groups were 45.1 and 41.0 ng/ml, respectively. In our study sample, 14% of the study group and 23% of the control group had deficient levels of vitamin D (≤20 ng/ml 25(OH)D). Vitamin D levels did not correlate with the presence of meconium or the thickness of the meconium. Conclusion: The present study indicates that blood levels of vitamin D of infants born through meconium stained amniotic fluid were not significantly different from those with clear amniotic fluid. Larger studies are needed to define the exact role of vitamin D in pregnancy and to investigate the effect of additional Vitamin D intake on pregnancy outcomes.

Key words: Meconium, cord blood, vitamin D, low risk pregnancies.